Pontifex Maximus List

Roman Office of the Pontifex Maximus

Year

Pontifex

Notes

712 BC

Numa Pompilius

The office was said to begin during the tenure of the Kings of Rome.
However, very little recorded evidence exists. This name has been recorded
as Numa Marcius and it is difficult to determine if it was a different
person, or the actual second king of Rome.

509 BC

Papirius

Complete dates in office unknown.

449 BC

Furius

Complete dates in office unknown.

431 BC

Cornelius Cossas

Complete dates in office unknown.

420 BC

Minucius

Complete dates in office unknown.

390 BC

Follius Flaccinator

Complete dates in office unknown.

332 - 304 BC

Cornelius Callissa

304 - ? BC

Cornelius Scipio Barbatus

Complete dates in office unknown.

254 - 243 BC

Tib. Coruncanius

First Plebeian Pontifex Maximus

243 - 221 BC

Caecilius Metellus

217 - 213 BC

Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus

212 - 183 BC

Licinius Crassus Dives

183 - 180 BC

Servilius Geminus

180 - 152 BC

Aemilius Lepidus

152 -150 BC

No Pontifex Maximus

150 - 141 BC

Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum

141 - 132 BC

Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio

Described by Plutarch as the first Pontifex to break the religious
law not allowing him to leave Italy.

132 - 130 BC

Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus

Also noted as the first to leave Italy, during the social disorder
of the Gracchi
Brothers. After which, it became increasingly common and
certainly not against the law for the Pontifex to leave Italy.

? - 115 BC

P. Mucius Scaevola

Complete dates in office unknown, but assumedly shortly after his predecessor.

With the accession of Augustus, the election of the Pontifex Maximus
ceased as each successive emperor held the office. (Emperor
list) In 382 AD, when the Eastern emperor Theodosius established
Christianity as the official religion of the empire, the Western Emperor
Gratian relinquished the office to the Christian Popes of Rome, who have
held it since that time.

Did you know?

In the Roman Republic, the Pontifex Maximus was the head of the Roman religion. He was the most important of the Pontifices (plural of Pontifex), which were positions in the main sacred college (Collegium Pontificum), which was directed by the Pontifex Maximus.